Feasibility study for an Estonian Materials Technology Programme

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Feasibility study for an Estonian Materials Technology Programme
3. Materials technology abroad: co-operation and competition
3.2.2 Lithuania
The Lithuanian status in materials sciences is very similar to other Baltic countries. Advanced materials research
and technology development has been very recently studied by Valiulis and Škamat (2010) 69 . The Lithuanian
public R&D system consists of 21 universities, 9000 teaching staff and 2800 PhD students. The strongest areas
in research are biotechnology, biochemistry, chemistry, mathematics, physics (especially laser physics), ICT, electronics
and power-engineering.
The following institutions and universities and their research areas have been identified in the study of Valiulis
and Škamat:
Lithuanian Energy Institute
Production of thermo insulating fiber
Synthesis of new catalytic coatings with active elements of metal oxides
Plasma nitriding of austenitic stainless steels and alloys
Modification of materials surface layer by deposition of a – C:H films
Deposition of hydrocarbons containing coatings and yttrium stabilised zirconium coatings (especially
for fuel cells)
Semiconductor Physics Institute (SPI)
Materials science and nanotechnology
Ultrafast processes in semiconductors and superconductors
Terahertz technology
Metrology and the development of National Standards
Institute of Physical Electronics, Kaunas University of Technology
Thin films and surface engineering
Application of ion and plasma methods for nanostructures and nanomaterials
Development of new materials and structures
Potential application areas: coatings for sensors and MEMS devices, passive layers in microelectronics,
wear and chemical resistant protective coatings for industry and biomedical applications
Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
Nanotechnologies in refractory materials (Institute of Thermal Insulation)
Composite aircraft structures (Antanas Gustaitis Aviation Institute)
Heat treatment of alloy steel welded joints arc spray, coating technology (Department of Materials
Science and Welding)
The research institutions in Lithuania mostly focus on fundamental research and the largest reason for lacking
R&D effectiveness is said to be the absence of critical mass to support R&D activities. Improvement of the situation
would require larger research institutions as well as better support from the business sector.
Also similarly to other Baltic countries, Lithuania has prepared its own knowledge based economy study in
2004. 70 The study highlights three high technology sectors with high potential for Lithuania including:
Biotechnology sector
Laser technology sector
Information technology and telecommunications sector
The country has since established a number of National Technology Platforms, which are associations of enterprises,
research institutions and financial groups operating in a specific sector of the Lithuanian economy on
the basis of a joint activity agreement. Technology platforms relevant to materials technology include 7172 :
Future manufacturing (36 members)
Apparel and textile industry (10 members)
Biotechnology (29 members)
Photoelectricity (10 members)
69 Advanced Materials Research and Technologies Development: Lithuanian Experience (2010)
70 The Knowledge Economy in Lithuania – A study of The Industry’s Prospects (http://www.innovation.lv/ino2/publications/
knowledgeeconomy.pdf)
71 http://www.tpa.lt/ENG/FP7/files/NTP_platforms.pdf
72 http://www.ntplatformos.lt